Regulation of chrysanthemum cut flower senescence using 5-sulfosalicylic acid and aluminium sulphate

Vase-life is a key factor for evaluating the post-harvest quality of cut flowers that determines their marketability. Chrysanthemum is one of the top most cut flowers sold in international flower markets. In the present study, trials were conducted to improve the postharvest life of chrysanthemum cut flowers using preservative solutions such as 5-sulfosalicylic acid (5-SSA) and aluminium sulphate (Al2(SO4)3) alone or in combination with 1.5 % sucrose. Treatments using 5-SSA (100 ppm and 150 ppm) or 200 ppm Al2(SO4)3 along with 1.5 % sucrose showed a significant increase in vase-life, fresh weight of the cut stems, vase solution uptake, membrane stability index of the petals and leaf chlorophyll as compared to other treatments. Among different vase solutions evaluated, T10 (200 ppm Al2(SO4)3 +1.5 % sucrose) gave maximum vase life of22.3 days, followed by T8 (5-SSA 150 ppm + 1.5 % sucrose) and T6 (100 ppm 5-SSA+ 1.5 % sucrose) treatments with 20.85 and 19.85 days respectively as compared to 17.84 days in control. High concentrations of both the chemicals (5-SSA and Al2(SO4)3) without sucrose showed toxicity symptoms.